The Boys & Girls Club sponsored their annual Youth of the Year contest. Being chosen as Youth of the Year is the highest honor a youth from the Boys & Girls Club can receive within the club. It is quite a hefty process to become Youth of the Year. Each applicant is required to fill out an application which includes a speech, three essays (My Club Experience, What Matters to Me, and Personal Growth), two letters of recommendation, qualifications, volunteer hours, a personal quote, resume and cover letter. Shona Kocer was selected as the local Boys & Girls Club of the Missouri River Area Youth of the Year. On Wednesday, February 28th, Shona traveled to Pierre to take part of the South Dakota State Youth of the Year contest, where she won the title of 2024 South Dakota State Youth of the Year.

The Youth of the Year competition is open to club members ages 14-18. The application process is the same every year. The Youth of the Year program has been going for 75 years in honoring and celebrating inspiring teens and their journeys. The Wagner Boys & Girls Club has been a part of this annual competition since the club first began in 1998. The Wagner club had their first local winner in 2003. Ten out of their fifteen Wagner local winners have gone on to win at the state level, Shona is the daughter of Francis and Karla Kocer. Her grandparents are Dan and Carolyn Kocer and Alvin and Linda Jonkers. When asked why she applied for the contest, Shona said that she was encouraged to apply by the Wagner Boys & Girls Club team, and she thought she could be a good representative of the Wagner club. Shona has been a member of the Missouri River Area Boys and Girl’s Club for the past 13 years. She has also been working at the club since she was an 8th grader for the past five years.

At both the local and state level, Shona had to write three essays totaling 5000 words, had to memorize a three-minute speech, and had to prepare for a 15-minute interview. This was all in addition to the cover letter, resume and two letters of recommendation. At the two-day state competition, Shona competed against three others in Pierre. The other three contestants were from Yankton, Sioux Falls and Hills City. While participating at the state competition, the participants were given a tour of the Pierre Boys & Girls Club. This was a nice opportunity for Shona to see how other clubs function and made her very grateful to work for and represent the Wagner club. Patrick Breen, Executive Director of the Wagner Boys & Girls Club and Tara Buitendag, Education Coordinator for the Wagner Boys & Girls Club attended the event along with Shona.

Being named South Dakota Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year does earn Shona a $2500 scholarship and allows her to continue to the next level of the contest. At the end of June, Shona will travel to Chicago to compete at the Midwest Regional level against competitors from twelve other states in hopes of winning a $20,000 scholarship along with another title and the chance to continue to the next level of the contest which would be the National competition held in Washington D.C. where the five regions send their winners for a final competition.

Shona’s advice for anyone interested in competing in the Youth of the Year contest is to make sure that you give back to the Boys & Girls Club by getting volunteer hours in. Shona had 83 hours of volunteering for the club through school and as a part of the Boys & Girls Club reading program. She would also tell future contestants to really practice your speech and to make sure that the delivery is genuine. Shona was very proud to represent the Missouri River Area Boys and Girls Club by participating in the contest. She felt it was a great way to help give recognition to her local club. The Wagner chapter may be small, but they are doing big things, and she is proud to be a part of that.

Shona is a senior at Wagner Community School. During her high school years, she has been a part of many extracurricular activities including volleyball, track, the school play, National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christan Athletes, Student Council and Activities Council. After graduation, Shona plans to attend either South Dakota State University or the University of South Dakota to major in human biology and child development with the eventual plans to become a pediatric occupational therapist.

Congratulations Shona, on being chosen South Dakota State Youth of the Year. Thank you for being a wonderful representative of the Wagner Boys & Girls Club. Best of luck at the Midwest Regional Youth of the Year contest; we know that you will do great.